Research Methods Flashcards
What are the three basic research designs in personality psychology?
The three basic research designs are experimental, correlational, and case study methods.
What are the two key requirements for good experimental design?
The two key requirements are the manipulation of one or more variables and ensuring participants in each condition are equivalent at the study’s start, often through random assignment or counterbalancing.
Explain the correlation coefficient and its significance.
The correlation coefficient measures the relationship between two variables, ranging from +1.00 (positive correlation) to -1.00 (negative correlation). It indicates the strength and direction of the relationship.
What are the directionality and third-variable problems in correlational studies?
The directionality problem is the uncertainty of whether A causes B or B causes A. The third-variable problem is the possibility that an unknown variable causes both A and B.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of case study methods?
o Advantages: Provide in-depth knowledge, are useful for studying rare phenomena, and can generate hypotheses for further research.
o Disadvantages: Findings from one individual may not generalize to others.
